Rita (heartily): O, yes, Fritz. That's better, isn't it? It sounds more natural, eh?
Friedrich (presses her hand and sighs): Yes, really. You take a heavy load from me. Everything that I want to say to you can be done so much better in the familiar tone.
Rita: Oh! Have you still so much to say to me?
Friedrich: Well—but now tell me first: how was it possible for you to undertake such a step. What prompted you to leave so suddenly? Erna, Erna, how could you do that?
Rita (proudly): How I could? Can you ask me that? Do you really not know it?
Friedrich (softly): Oh, yes; I do know it, but—it takes so much to do that.
Rita: Not more than was in me.
Friedrich: One thing I must confess to you, although it was really bad of me. But I knew no way out of it. I felt relieved after you had gone.
Rita: Well, then, that was your heroism.
Friedrich: Do not misunderstand me. I knew my father had——